The University of Pennsylvania recently released a study on the transition from fossil fuels to green jobs and its affect on the labor market.
According to the study, workers in carbon-intensive or “dirty” industries will be negatively affected, and the clean energy transition may “exacerbate trends in labor market inequality.”
Researchers analyzed data from 130 million online work profiles representing approximately 300 million job-to-job transitions and discovered the rate of workers transitioning from dirty to green jobs is increasing quickly. They also discovered green jobs offer opportunities for longer-term employment, and the number of green jobs available is increasing.
Conversely, the transitions represent only a small number of workers and those seeking green jobs generally do not come from the fossil fuel industry. Many are first-time job holders. Older workers and those without a college education are less likely to transition to green jobs.
Researchers also discovered that in local labor markets there may be limits regarding how green jobs can offer alternate employment to potentially displaced workers transitioning away from fossil fuels.
“Our findings highlight the importance of understanding the outside options available to workers, including in cleaner industries and other local industries where their skills may be a good match,” the study’s authors said.
The study was published by the National Bureau of Economic Research. It was written by Layla O’Kane of Lightcast, E. Mark Curtis of Wake Forest University and Dr. R. Jisung Park, Penn’s School of Social Policy & Practice assistant professor with a secondary appointment at the Wharton School.
Park is an environmental and labor economist focused on how environmental factors shape economic opportunity.